Simpson Orthodoxy

In case you haven't noticed, I won't be updating my reading of the Jesus Way. It is a good book and you should read it. Really you should.

Yesterday, Sunday February 1st of 2009, I had the beautiful privilege of attending a Greek Orthodox (although they would probably just prefer Orthodox) service. The smell of incense was both powerful and a little overwhelming. The music was ancient, not flashy, but beautiful. The homily was, well, a homily not superb and not horrible, it was actually decent, but not spectacular. The melodic chants of the priest were intoxicating. The prayers of the Saints, like John Crysostom (sp?), were far reaching. Yet I left the service, uncomfortable. My thoughts about the liturgy were mixed with praise and sadness. There was still a tribalistic mentality in the liturgical prayers. Prayers for the army of the US, but not for the enemies of Uncle Sam, seemed a little out of place, especially coming from an Orthodox (Eastern European) tradition. I guess the tribalism found in the Orthodox church is not all that surprising, considering the many different tribes of Orthodoxy (Romanian, Russian, Greek, etc.). I wish churches would strive for unity.

What would happen if churches became ecumenical? What if our standard for fellowship was defined by how we view the resurrection of Jesus? So what if someone teaches a false doctrine? Yes I believe that false doctrine is bad, but I believe that Christians should be willing to listen and even agree to disagree with each other, even on some traditionally BIG issues. I believe that if the church were more focused on loving each other, then doctrinal disagreements will not be the only focus. It is as if we have not yet been filled with enough love to care more about other people's hearts than their convictions.

On an awesome sidenote, the priest mentioned something called "triodian (sp?)." This word finally made sense of the Simpson television show character Reverend Lovejoy. In my viewings of the Simpson's I have heard Reverend Lovejoy spout off funny Christian words similar to that of "triodian." Reverend Lovejoy is then the combination of all Christian ministers made into an ecumenical concauction. I truly found this amazing and cool. Not only does Reverend Lovejoy represent baptists and christian churchians, he also represents the Orthodox church and Catholics and others. I am able to look more fondly at the Simpson's because of this event.